Drive shaft configuration for a high voltage antenna tuning mechanism

Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed dielectric material drive shaft constructions designed for use particularly in high electric-field potential environments such as in driven tuning mechanism of a high voltage helical transmitting antenna, which shaft constructions are capable of maintaining operation under unusually high mechanical loads requiring both rotational and axial movement. A plurality of elongated common-stock pieces of layered epoxy or siliconbonded fiberglass are shaped cross-sectionally to be united predeterminably into a unitary form via longitudinally running bonds of epoxy adhesive. The unitary form cross-section is a ''''soft'''' polygon, for example a rounded-off triangle or square, wherein the individual pieces are so arranged as to have the interlaminar shear planes of the layered dielectric material substantially perpendicular to the direction of the force of the applied loads. To provide a shaft surface which resists wear, prevents surface contamination, and has nontracking properties most beneficial in preventing arcing and creepage in extremely high potential electric gradient environments, a sleeve or jacket of teflon is provided about the shaft''s outer surface. In cases where shafts loads are excessive, the shaft construction may include a multiplicity of strong dielectric pins driven thru the unitary structure, each across a successive interfacing epoxy bond, to form a helical pin configuration which resist interlaminar shear loads and provides additional strength to these bonds.

Inventors

• 👤 C Majkrzak
• 👤 S Sladowski

Bibliographic Details